Machine for stuffing cushions.



PATENTED JAN. 30, 1906.

A. L. 6r, P. G.. ROOP. MACHINE FOR STUFFING GUSHIONS.

APPLICATION FILED DBO. 12, 1904.

4 SHEETS--SHBBT l,

i 1 $6 INVENTORS zwemm WITATESSES.'

WMM

No. 811,095. PATENTED JAN. 30, 1906.

1 A. L. 8x F. C. R001. MACHINE FUR STUFPING GUSHIONS.

APPLICATION FILED DBG. 12, 1904.

'4 sHEBTs-sHBET 2.

No. 811,095 PATENTED JAN. 30, 1906. A. L. da E'. C. ROOF. MACHINE FR STUFPING GUSHIONS.

APPLICATION FILE1) DBO. 12, 1904.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

mmf 3? Illllllllnmigluluf 35 A/TVITSES M'IN/ENFORS CMM No. 811,095. PATENTED JAN. 30, 1906.

A. L. & P. 0. ROOP.

MACHINE POR STUFFING CUSHIONS.

APPLICATION FILED DEO. 12, 1904.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

W I INESSES unirsi) sTAriis PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT L. ROOP AND FANNIE O. ROOP, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENN- SYLVANIA.

MACHINE Fon STUFF-ING @USI-noms.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 30, 1906.

Application filed December l2, 1904-.. Serial No. 236,416.

To'ctZ, whom, t Wtcty concern:

Be it known that we, ALBERT L. Roor andl FANNIE O. Roo?, citizens of the United States, and residents of the city of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in hia-l chines for Stuffing Cushions, of which the following is a full, clear, and complete disclosure.

The object of our invention is to provide such a machine for stuffing cushions-that the same will be substantially automatic in its action, may be adjusted for different sizes of cushions, and suoli that the cushion will be filled evenly and compactly with the material which is to be inserted.

Briefly, our invention comprises improvements in a machine having a rammer or plunger which is adapted to pack theflilling mate-- rial firmly within the bag or cushion-cover, said plunger being so arranged that as the bag or cushion fills the same will yield and have a continuous upward movement in addition to its reciprocating movement, so that the filling material will be packed evenly for the entire length or body of the cushion.

Our invention also comprises means for feeding the filling material into the bag or casing, so that the same may be acted upon by the raminer or plunger.

-A further feature of our invention also reiA sides in an automatic means for stopping the action of the machine after the bag or cushion has been sufficiently filled.

Our invention also consists of other features, hereinafter to be fully pointed out and claimed.

For a full, clear, and exact description of this form of our invention reference may be had to the following specification and to the accompanying drawings, forming part there of, in whichd Figure l is a front elevation of our imw Fig. 2 is a side therefrom. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of said sleeve, also showing the raminer or plunger in section. Fig. 8 is a detailed view of the means for reciprocating the plunger carrier or holder. Fig. 9 is a detailed view show ing the latch or pawl with adjacent mechanism for holding the belt-shipper in such a position as to keep the machine in operation. Fig. 10 is a detailed view showing the parts of the catch or pawl illustrated in Fig. 9 enlarged, said view being taken at right angles to that shown at Fig. 9. Fig. 1l is a detailed view showing the means to operate the fricti on-brake to stop the machine when the beltshipper is thrown off. Fig. 12 is a detailed view showing the band-brake, together with its connection with the shipper-rod.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates four uprights or posts which form the vertical members of a rectangular frame for supporting the parts of our improved inaehine. These uprights are connected at suitable points by horizontal bars 2 and 3, which hold the uprights 1 in their relative positions and form supports for bearings, &c., of the revoluble parts of the machine. The supports 1 at the front of the machine are also engaged by a vertically-adjustable table 4,

which is supported upon slidable sleeves 5,

the later being retained adjustably iii position by means of the hand-operated pawls 6. The table 4 is adapted to support and carry a suitable mold 7, which is preferably made in the form of two hinged parts the inner sides vof which have recesses which are substantially the shape of the main body portion of the cushion 8, which is being filled with the material.

Adjustably carried by the uprights 1 is a horizontally-disposed bar 9, which is. bent to extend rearwardly of the mold 7, and has pivoted to its front side a locking member or clamp 9', which is adapted to engage the bar 9 at its free end and so inclose the mold 7 when the latter is closed. A hand-screw 10 passes through the pivoted member 9 and is adapted to produce the requisite pressure between the parts ofthe mold. This arrangement of bar and clamp not only holds the parts of the mold together duiing the ramining operation, but also locates the mold accurately and rmly in relation to the hollow bearing and the rammer 12.

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Carried by one of the upper horizontal bars or supports 2 is a vertical bearing 11 and attached to the lower side of the horizontal bar 3 is another vertical bearing 11. Through these bearings passes an angular rod 12, preferably square in cross-section. Said rod is adapted to project downwardly into the recess in the mold 7 and into the cushion-casing 8, thereby forming a plunger or rammer, as indicated at 12. The lower end of the bearing 11 is somewhat reduced in external diameter, as indicated at 13, to allow the end of the cushion-covering 8 to be attached thereto. The interior of the bearing 11 is somewhat enlarged and communicates with a feed-pipe 14 for the purpose of supplying the filling material to the interior of the bag or cushion-covering 8.

For the smaller sizes of cushion, if it is desired to cause the opening in the bag to connect with the lower end of the bearing 11 at a pointr lower down than the end of said bearing will permit, we provide an adjustable sleeve 15, having an inclined slot 16 therein, through which passes a thumb-screw 17. The thumb-screw is adapted to engage the end 13 of the bearing 11', and thereby hold said sleeve 15 in position, as clearly indicated in Fig. 3. Tn Fig. 7 we have shown a cross-section of said sleeve 15, together with the lower end 13 of the bearing 11', the plunger or rammer 12 being also indicated in position therein.

In order to firmly pack the filling material within the cushion-cover 8, the rod 12, and therefore its lower end forming the rammer 12', is reciprocated vertically as the illing, such as sawdust or other granular material, is inserted into the cushion. The means for providing this reciprocating motion is described as follows: Upon the transverse bars or supports 2 are placed suitable bearin s 18, through which passes a horizontal sha t 19. The shaft 19 carries intermediate of its ends fast and loose pulleys 20 and 21, respectively, which are adapted to. be engaged by a driving-belt 23. The Aforward end of the shaft 19 has rigidly attached thereto a crank-disk 24, from which projects a suitable crank-pin 25. The crank-pin 25 is connected with the vertical reciprocating rod 12 in the following manner: Two separable jaws or plates 26 and 27, having V-shaped grooves 28 and 29 therein, are adapted to embrace said rod 12, the groove 28 being provided with a recess in which is retained a facing of fiber 30 or other suitable frictional material. The groove 29 in the plate or jaw 27 is provided with a similar recess in which is first placed an L-shaped plate 31 and also a facing 32 of fiber or other similar material. As means for adjusting the relation of the L-shaped plate 31 in relation to the jaw 27, we provide screws 33 at the upper and lower end of said jaw 27. These screws pass through low boXes or projections 34, upon which rests a spring-plate 35. Passing through suitable openings in the jaws 26 and 27 is a U-shaped bar or 'support 36, to which is pivoted a cam-lever 37 by means of a bolt or other bearing 38. The cam-lever 37 has a slightly-flattened portion 39, which is adapted to bear against the central portion of the plate 35 when the lever is pulled outwardly in a position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4. Vhen the said lever 37 is pushed inwardly, the more rounded portion of the end thereof will force the plate 35 inwardly, and thereby cause the jaw 27 to engage the rod 12 with suitable pressure. As means for holding the lever 37 in its operative position we provide a hook 40, which is pivoted to the lever 37 and is provided with an arm 41, extending at right angles thereto, the said arm being pressed outwardly from the lever 37 by means of a coiled spring 42, which is carried on a curved rod 43. The end ofthe hook 40 is adapted to engage the opening between the jaws 26 and 27 and when so engaged will hold the lever 37 in its inner position, and thereby maintain the pressure between the jaws 26 and 27 and the rod 12. As means for maintaining the support 36 in engagement with the jaw 26 we provide the usual set-nuts 44. From the rear of the jaw 27 projects a stud or bearing 45, which is connected with the crank-pin 25 on the disk 24 by means of a link or pitman 46. be seen that as the shaft 19 is rotated the crank-disk 24 will also be rotated therewith, which will communicate a reciprocating motion to the jaws 26 and 27 through the crankpin 25, the pitman 46, and bearing 45.

The means for supplying the lling to the bag or cushion-casing 8 comprises the following parts: Beneath the machine is placed a reservoir or boX 47, into which projects a conduit or pipe 48, which connects with a centrifugal blower 49. The pipe 48 continues through said blower and enters a hopper 50, said hopper being provided with a pipe 51 for conveying away the air-blast after the sawdust or other iilling material has been deposited in said hopper. The lower end of the hopper 50 is attached to a pipe or conduit 14, which connects at its lower end with the interior of the bearing 11. The centrifugal blower 49 is driven through a suitable pulley 53, carried by the shaft 19 and the drivingbelt 54.

Carried by the rod 12 is an adjustable stop 80, which is adapted to engage with the upper end of an elastic cushion or bushing 81, of rubber or other similar material, resting upon the bearing 9. This cushion is adapted to form a yielding stop for the rod 12 when the jaws of the clamp are released and said rod thereby allowed to drop, so that the plunger or rammer 12 may operate in the lower portion of the bag or casing 8.

The operation of the parts of our improved machine as thus far described is as follows: Assuming that the bag or cushion-casing 8 Tt will now IOO IOS

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has been placed in position within the mold 7 and the parts thereof closed and the opening in the casing 8 has been placed about the lower end of the bearing 11, the lever 37 is then forced inwardly until the hook engages the opening between said jaws, which will produce the required pressure to cause the facings 28 and 32 to frictionally engage the surfaces of the rod 12. The machine is started by causing the belt 23 to be shifted onto the fast pulley 20. rlhe rotation of the shaft 19 will then cause the jaws 26 and 27, which embrace the rod 12, to reciprocate vertically. As the blower 49 is now also in operation, the lling material will be withdrawn from the reservoir 17 and carried into the hopper 50, from whence it will pass through the pipe 14 into` the interior of the `bearing 11, and thence through the lower end thereof| into the interior of the bag or casing 8 through the space between said bearing and the sides of the plunger or rammer 12. The filling material will therefore be continuously fed to said bag or casing and as the rammer 12 reciprocates will be firmly packed into position. As the bag or casing 8 iills it is obvious that the portion of the filling material to be rammed into position reaches a higher and higher level within the bag or casing; but the rammer is accommodated to this change in level by reason of the fact of the frictional engagement of the reciprocating jaws 26 and 27 with the rod 12-that is to say, when the rammer 12/ strikes the material within the casing 8 with a force above a certain amount the rod 8 will slide Within said jaws and assume a reciprocating position slightly higher than its previous one, and as the casing fills the position of the rammer 12 will be constantly changed until the said casing is sufficiently i'illed. It willthus be seen that after the machine is once started the filling material is automatically supplied to the interior of the casing and rammed home without further manipulation.'

As means to automatically stop the action of the machine when a cushion-casinghas been sumciently filled we provide the following means: Attached to the frame of the machine is an upright support 55, which has pivoted at its upper end alever 56, the inner end of which is adapted to extend into the path of the vertical rod 12, while its outer end is connected with a rod or link 57. The lower end of said rod 57 is connected with the outer end of a pivoted arm or latch 58. (Shown most clearly in Fig. 9.) Said arm or latch 58 is provided with an inclined portion forming a catch or knife-edge 59. Carried in suitable bearings on the machine is a longitudinal slidable shipper-rod 60, which carries adjacent one end thereof the parallel shipperarms 61, which are adapted to engage the Y belt 23 to shift the same from the fixed pulley 20 to the loose pulley 21 and vice versa.

The shipper-rod 60 has its forward end bent at right angles, as indicated at 62, to form a handle, so that the shipper may be manually operated. The shipper-rod 60 is normally maintained in such a position as to keep the belt 23 on the loose pulley 21 by means of a coiled tension-spring 63, which at one end is connected to a fixed hook 64E, carried by the frame of the machine and at its other end with a hook 65, carried by the shipper-rod 60. The shipper-rod 60 is also provided with a hook or tooth 66, which is adapted to engage with the knife-edge 59 as the shipperrod 60 is moved longitudinally, said shipperrod being thereafter maintained in its outer position against the tension of the coiled spring 63 with the belt 33 upon the fast pulley 20. A suitable coiled spring 67 surrounds the rod 57 and has one end resting against a suitable pin 68, carried by the rod 57, and its other end resting against the fixed support 69. This coiled spring will therefore tend to keep the rod 57 in its raised position, and therefore the knife-edge 59 of the pivoted arm 58 in the path ofthe lug 66. It

will now be seen that when the material has reached a certain height inthe bag or casing the upper end of the rod 12 will contact with the inner end of the lever 56, thereby forcing the rod 57 downwardly, which will disengafe the knife-edge 59 from the lug 66. This will allow the tension-spring 68 to shift the belt 23 onto the loose pulley, and thereby shut olf the power.

As means for stopping the machine as quickly as possibleafter the power has been shut off, we provide an automatic brake, which consists of the following parts: Carried by the shipper-rod 60 is a cam-plate 70, having an outer inclined edge 71. Projecting into the path of the plate 7 0 as the same slides longitudinally with the shipper-rod 60 is one end of a slidable rod 72, supported in a suitable bearing 73, carried by the transverse bar 52 of the frame of the machine. The outer end of the rod 72 carries an antifrictionroller 74, which is adapted to contact with the cam-plate 70. The opposite end of said rod 72 is connected with one end of a pivoted arm 75, to which is attached the opposite end of a brake-band 76, which embraces a brake-wheel 77, carried on the main shaft 19 of the machine. It will now be seen that when the shipper-rod 60 is released to shift the belt onto the loose pulley, as above described, the cam-plate 70 will at the same time be moved longitudinally, thereby forcing the end of the slidable rod 72 outwardly, which will cause the arm 75 to rotate upon its pivot, thereby tightening the brake-band 7 6 ,which, through its increased friction with the brake-wheel 7 7 will stop the rotation of the shaft 19 and its connected parts.

The pivoted arm 58 may be connected with a suitable pedal 78 by means 'of a rod 79, s0

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that the machine may be stopped at any time independently of the automatic stopping mechanism.

Having thus described one form of our invention, it will be seen that we have produced a machine for stuffing or filling cushions, &c., which after once being started is automatic in its action and which will be immediately stopped after a cushion has been filled to the required amount, and having these objects and functions in view it will be obvious that certain changes may be made in form, arrangement, and proportion of parts, and mechanical equivalents may be substituted without departing from .the spirit and scope of our invention, but

What we claim, and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a filling and packing machine, the combination with means for inserting the material into the article to be filled, of means for stopping said machine when the material has reached a certain height in said article.

2. In a filling and packing machine, the combination with a plunger or rammer, means for supplying material to the article to be filled, and means for stopping the machine when the material has reached a certain height.

3. In a filling and packing machine, the combination with a reciprocating plunger or rammer, of means for supplying material to the article to be filled, and means engaging said plunger or rammer to stop the machine when the material has reached a certain height.

4. In a filling and packing machine, the combination with a plunger or rammer, of means for supplying filling material to the article to be filled, and means located in the path of said plunger or rammer for stopping the machine when the material has reached a certain height.

5. In a filling and packing machine, the combination with a plunger or rammer, of means for supplying material to the article to be filled, a belt-shifter, and means engaging said plunger for operating said beltshifter to stop the machine when the material has reached a certain height.

6. In a filling and packing machine, the combination with a plunger or rammer, of means for supplying filling material, a lever, one end of which is located in the path of said plunger or rammer, a belt-shifter, and means connecting said lever with said belt-shifter for stopping the machine when the material has reached a certain height.

7. In a filling and packing machine, the combination with a plunger or rammer, of means for supplying material to the article to be lled, a spring-controlled belt-shifter, a catch connected with said belt-shifter, and means operated by said plunger for releasing aimes said catch when the filling material has reached a certain height.

8. In a filling and packing machine, the combination with a plunger or rammer, and means for supplying material to the article to be filled, a spring-controlled belt-shifter, a catch operating upon said belt-shifter, a lever, one end of which is located in the path of said plunger, and connections between said catch and lever, whereby the machine is stopped when the material has reached a certain height.

9. In a filling and packing machine, the combination with means for filling the article to be filled, driving mechanism, a brake operating upon said driving mechanism, and means connected with said filling means and said brake for operating said brake when the Jfilling material has reached a certain height.

10. In a filling and packing machine, the combination with a plunger or rammer, of driving mechanism, a machine-brake operating upon said driving mechanism, and means operated by said plunger and connected with said brake for applying the latter when the filling material has reached a certain height.

11. In a filling and packing machine, the

combination with a plunger or rammer, of driving mechanism, means for shutting off the power of said driving mechanism, said means being operated by said plunger, a machine-brake for said driving mechanism, and connections between said means for shutting off the power and said brake for applying the latter to stop the machine.

12. In a filling and packing machine, the combination with a plunger or rammer, of driving means for shutting 0H the power when the filling material has reached a certain height; a machine-brake acting upon said driving mechanism, and connections between the means for shutting off the power and said brake for operating the latter to stop the machine.

13. In a filling and packing machine, the combination with a plunger or rammer, driving mechanism, a belt-shifter for said driving mechanism, means between said belt-shifter and said plunger for operating said beltshifter when the material has reached a certain height, machine-brake acting upon said driving mechanism, and means carried by said belt-shifter for operating said brake.

14. In a filling and packing machine, the combination with a plunger or rammer, of driving mechanism therefor, a belt-shifter for said driving mechanism, actuated by said plunger, a brake acting upon said driving mechanism, a cam-plate carried by said beltshifter, a spring, and connections between said cam-plate and said spring for operating the latter to stop the machine.

15. In a filling and packing machine, the

combination with a plunger or rammer, driv- ICO IIO

ing mechanism therefor, a spring-controlled belt-shifter operating upon said driving mechanism and operatively connected with the said rammer, a machine-brake upon said driving mechanism, a camplate carried by said belt-shifter, and means between said camplate and said brake for operating the latter to stop the machine.

16. In a filling and packing machine, the combination with a plunger or rammer, of driving mechanism therefor, a spring-controlled belt-shifter for said driving mechanism, a latch for holding said belt-shifter in its normal position to operate the machine, a cam-plate carried by said belt-shifter, a machine-brake acting upon said driving mechanism, and connections between said brake and said cam-plate for operating said brake.

17. In a iilling and packing machine, the combination with a device for engaging the article to be filled, of a transverse bar rigidly held in position, and means for clamping said device to said bar.

18. In a :Filling and packing machine, the

combination with a two-part mold, of a transverse bar rigidly held in position, and means for clamping said mold to said bar.

19. In a filling and packing machine, the combination with a two-part mold, of atransverse bar rigidly held in position, a member pivoted to said bar, and means for producing pressure between the parts of said mold.

20. Ina iilling and packing machine, the combination with a two-part mold, of a transverse bar rigidly held in position, a clamping member pivoted to said bar, and a handscrew carried by said member, and adapted to produce a pressure between the parts of said mold.

In witness whereof We have hereunto set our hands this 7th day of December, A. D. 1904i.

ALBERT L. BOOP. FANNIE C. ROOF.

Witnesses:

GEO. A.WILLMANNS, EDW. W. VAILL, Jr. 

